Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series highlighting the aging population of Chautauqua County.

Keeping seniors living in their homes can be beneficial to both seniors and the community, according to Chautauqua County Office of the Aging Director Maryann Spanos.

Spanos said seniors have a lot to offer the community and offering services to them in their homes can be cost-effective and help allow them to stay at home. She said seniors who stay at home can contribute economically and socially to the local area.

“If people cannot get help and services in their homes and are forced into a facility, they spend all their wealth down quickly and have to use Medicaid,” she said.

In essence, taxpayers then fund their care. Spanos said through the Chautauqua County Office of the Aging, services can be provided for a whole year for a lower cost, depending on what is needed. She said if a person needs a variety of services including adult day care, the cost for a year could be $15,000 while the costs would be about $9,000 without adult day care. Those costs are much less than that of nursing homes, she said.

The impact on the community is also notable.

“Once they’re out of their homes, they’re not paying taxes, they’re not buying anything in the community,” Spanos said. “All the economic generation went out the window.”

The Office of the Aging focuses on home-and community-based services to help people remain in their homes, she said. There are services that will allow a visiting care person to come to the home, Meals on Wheels and other measures to provide care and safety to the individual in need. The program offers adult day care and respite, caregiver services, elder abuse prevention services, exercise and wellness programs, health insurance counseling, senior safety and other services.

However, those services depend on state funding and donations for services, she said.

At the moment, Spanos said about 700 people are using Office of the Aging services with about 500 more on a waiting list. She said the best thing seniors can do is reach out to their public officials and tell their stories.

“Every time I go to advocate for seniors, the legislators are wondering where the seniors are,” she said. “They really want to hear from the seniors themselves. Call Sen. Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell – especially now, they’re settling the state budget.

Spanos said those in need of services should first call NY Connects, a program that assesses the needs of the individual and helps to connect them to services and programs. The Mayville area number is 753-4582, the Jamestown area number is 661-7582 and the Dunkirk area number is 363-4582.

For more information, visit www.nyconnects.ny.gov.